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- Austin’s airport is getting a new concourse and 20 more gates but not until the 2030s
- New federal cash paves way for East Austin’s ‘wishbone’ bridge over Lady Bird Lake
- Democrats vs. Republicans: First election coming for Travis Central Appraisal District board
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- Budget deficit looms over city this year and beyond
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Whispers
Thursday, January 20, 2022 by Tai Moses
The grid, a year after Uri
Who could forget the unprecedented events and aftermath of last February’s deadly winter storm and the failure of the state energy grid? With the first anniversary of the storm around the corner, many Texans are wondering whether the grid is more prepared this year in the event of severe winter weather. To find out, the Austin chapter of the League of Women Voters and state Rep. Gina Hinojosa are hosting a listening session with ERCOT interim CEO Brad Jones to answer community members’ concerns about grid reliability. The meeting will be conducted via Zoom on Wednesday, Jan. 26, at 7 p.m. Register here to receive the Zoom link. Questions may be submitted in advance to LWVAustin@LWVAustin.org until midnight tonight.
Thursday, January 20, 2022 by Tai Moses
Free Covid test kits now available
As you may have heard, the Biden administration is sending free Covid-19 test kits to the American public. Each household is eligible for one order of four rapid tests. You can order the test kits through the Postal Service or CovidTests.gov. Shipments go out later this month and areas of the country that are experiencing high rates of Covid will be prioritized. The administration is also solidifying plans to partner with pharmacies around the U.S. to distribute 400 million N95 face masks free, to anyone who needs them. Stay tuned for more details.
Wednesday, January 19, 2022 by Tai Moses
Map pinpoints how we roll
Austinites now have a way to let the city know precisely where they’d like to see improvements in the city’s walking and bicycling infrastructure. The handy online tool is called the ATX Walk Bike Roll Public Input Map, and according to the city’s news release, it allows residents to “pinpoint where they’d like to see improved street crossings, new bikeway and urban trail routes, and where barriers need to be addressed.” Assistant City Manager Gina Fiandaca said the new mapping tool “presents a unique opportunity to evaluate all of our active transportation plans at the same time. Our residents know their streets best. We need this ground-level feedback from the Austin community to make the most of this opportunity and get these plan updates right.” The tool will be accepting feedback through March 6. Learn more about the ATX Walk Bike Roll initiative.
Wednesday, January 19, 2022 by Tai Moses
Can Big Tech give back better?
The Austin Forum on Technology and Society is no stranger to stimulating discussions. The forum’s next online discussion starts with a provocative question: How can tech companies contribute to social good? Moderators Chelsea Collier and Jessica Sager will tackle the topic of tech companies’ booming fortunes and soaring stocks while pointing out that “this prosperity is not shared by all. In tech, women and people of color are underrepresented and under-compensated. For those not in tech careers/companies pressures on rising costs of living squeeze tight margins even more. These disparities can significantly increase inequities for marginalized communities.” However, given the “proper mindset and tools, the tech community can both continue to achieve and contribute to the social good. We are here to share ways that companies and individuals can give back.” Jan. 25, 6:30 p.m. Register in advance on Eventbrite and receive the Zoom link.
Tuesday, January 18, 2022 by Jo Clifton
Still few voters in District 4 race
Voters in City Council District 4 have been reluctant to vote in the special election to choose the successor to Council Member Greg Casar, who is running for Congress. As of Sunday night, only 742 voters – just a little more than 2 percent of those registered to vote in the district – have cast a ballot. Perhaps voters are worried about catching Covid-19, but only 13 showed up Sunday at the Chinatown Center. There were 41 voters all day at the city’s Permitting and Development Center, and just five at the Gus Garcia Recreation Center. Early voting continues through this Friday and the election is scheduled for Jan. 25. Candidates Monica Guzmán, José “Chito” Vela, Jade Lovera, Amanda Rios, Melinda Schiera, Ramesses II Setepenre, and Isa Boonto are counting on the voters of District 4 to make a decision. Find a list of polling locations here.
Tuesday, January 18, 2022 by Tai Moses
Tune in to the Monitor’s D4 candidates forum
Attention, District 4 residents! The Austin Monitor and KUT are co-hosting a virtual forum tonight at 7 p.m. to introduce the seven candidates running for the District 4 City Council seat formerly held by Greg Casar, who resigned from Council to run for Congress. Only residents of District 4 in North Central Austin may vote in this special election. Early voting is now underway, and the election will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 25. The forum will be streamed live on YouTube and on KUT.org. Have a question for the candidates? Use this form to submit a question and then tune in tonight to hear the candidates’ answers.
Tuesday, January 18, 2022 by Jo Clifton
Democratic clubs announce more endorsements
South Austin Democrats, one of the larger local Democratic voter clubs, has announced endorsements for the March 1 primary election. Those include state Rep. Eddie Rodriguez for U.S. Congress District 35, longtime U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett for District 37, Travis County commissioners Brigid Shea and Margaret Gómez for reelection to Precinct 2 and Precinct 4, respectively. The group also endorsed Lulu Flores for Texas House District 51 and Dyana Limon-Mercado for Travis County Clerk, as well as incumbent Rebecca Bell-Metereau for State Board of Education District 5. The judicial endorsements include Beth Payán for Place 4 on the 3rd Court of Appeals. The following were endorsed for Travis County district judge seats: Daniella DeSeta Lyttle (District 261), Jessica Huynh (District 331), Brandy Mueller (District 403), Catherine Mauzy (District 419) and Laurie Eiserloh (District 455). The group also endorsed Dimple Malhotra for County Court at Law No. 4, Mary Ann Espiritu for County Court at Law No. 5 and Denise Hernandez for County Court at Law No. 6.
Meanwhile, Austin Environmental Democrats has endorsed most of the same candidates, including Payán, Lyttle, Huynh, Mauzy, Eiserloh and Malhotra. The group announced a dual endorsement for Denise Hernandez and Leslie Jane Boykin in County Court at Law No. 6. There was no endorsement in the race for County Court at Law No. 5. The Environmental Democrats also endorsed incumbents Yvonne Williams, justice of the peace in Precinct 1, and Nick Chu, justice of the peace in Precinct 5.
Tuesday, January 18, 2022 by Jonathan Lee
Land use commissions win bid to stay at City Hall
The three most prominent land use commissions have prevailed in their attempt to continue meeting at City Hall. Facing an unwanted move to the new Permitting and Development Center in the Highland Mall redevelopment, members of the Planning Commission, Zoning and Platting Commission, and Board of Adjustment fought the move tooth and nail. After pulling all the procedural stops to halt the move, the bodies held a joint meeting in November, where they faced off against city staffers who insisted the move was necessary to relieve overcrowded meeting rooms at City Hall. A memo released on Friday, however, indicates city staff gave in to the demands. Assistant City Manager Rodney Gonzales said, “At this time, staff will not be pursuing moving the meeting locations for BOA, ZAP and PC,” though he did not explain the change of course. Gonzales emphasized that he still has “every confidence that the (PDC) can successfully accommodate all meetings.” City Council was supposed to decide the matter on Jan. 27.
Friday, January 14, 2022 by Jo Clifton
Trouble brewing over new vote-by-mail rules
A new state law is intensifying the usual controversy about the March 1 Democratic and Republican primaries. Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir is planning to hold a press conference Tuesday to explain the problems voters are having trying to get ballots by mail. According to a news release, the requirements of Senate Bill 1, the new Texas voting law, have resulted in Travis County rejecting about half of the ballot applications sent to the clerk’s office. Victoria Hinojosa, executive assistant to DeBeauvoir, told the Austin Monitor that the office had rejected about 350 of 700 requests for mail-in ballots. As the news release explains, the new law “requires applicants for ballot by mail to include either a driver’s license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number on their application for ballot by mail. This identification number is then verified against the applicant’s voter registration record.” If the applicant provides an ID number that is not in the voting records on file, “the law requires the application to be rejected.” It is not clear what voters can do to fix their applications and the clerk’s office says it has received insufficient guidance from the Texas secretary of state to help voters.
Friday, January 14, 2022 by Elizabeth Pagano
EMS chief search narrows to two
The search for Austin’s next emergency medical services chief was refined Thursday, with an announcement by Assistant City Manager Rey Arellano saying there are only two finalists remaining. The decision is between Jasper D. Brown, who is currently serving as interim chief of ATCEMS, and Robert Luckritz, who previously served as the Jersey City Medical Center EMS chief and executive director. The news came just before a livestreamed community input meeting on Thursday night. (The meeting can be viewed here or here.) Members of the community can still provide feedback on the finalists via SpeakUp Austin or by calling 311 through Jan. 17. A press release about the finalists promised that a new chief “will be named in the coming weeks.”
Friday, January 14, 2022 by Jo Clifton
Few D4 voters taking advantage of early voting
After four days of early voting in the special election to choose District 4 Council Member Greg Casar’s successor, the district’s voters seem unenthusiastic, despite the wide range of choices they have in the seven candidates. According to data from the Travis County Clerk’s Office, only 460 voters had cast ballots as of Thursday night. That’s about 1.33 percent of the nearly 35,000 registered voters in the district. Candidates for the seat are Isa Boonto, Melinda Schiera, Jade Lovera, Amanda Rios, Monica Guzman, José “Chito” Vela, and Ramesses II Setepenre. Early voting for the Jan. 25 election will continue through Jan. 21, although polling locations will be closed on Monday, Jan. 17, in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. For a list of polling locations, see the county clerk’s website.
Friday, January 14, 2022 by Tai Moses
City offices (and the ‘Monitor’) close for MLK Jr. holiday
In case you’ve been ignoring your calendar, you may be surprised to learn that the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday is already upon us, meaning city offices will be closed Monday, Jan. 17, in honor of the civil rights giant. Most Parks and Recreation facilities will also be closed Monday; however, city parks, golf courses, cemeteries, and some pools will be open. Check for details at austintexas.gov/parkclosures. Curbside trash and recycling collection services will not be affected by the holiday and the Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center will be open, though by appointment only. The Travis County Expo Center Covid drive-thru testing site will remain open Monday, from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Austin Public Health’s Covid-19 vaccination sites will be closed. The Covid-19 surveillance dashboard will not be updated Monday. Recycled Reads Bookstore, Austin History Center and Austin Public Library branches will be closed. The Austin Animal Center will be closed Monday, resuming normal hours the following day. If you find a stray pet, visit AAC’s website for tips on finding the animal’s owner. Last but not least, the Austin Monitor will be observing the holiday by not publishing Monday.